Ethiopian government tries to stop UK auction of looted Maqdala shield

Abyssinian artefact taken during 1868 battle is latest in appeal for restitution of ‘wrongfully acquired’ colonial-era items

The Ethiopian government has called the auction of a looted colonial-era shield “inappropriate and immoral” as it attempts to stop its sale this week and prevent it from disappearing into a private collection.

The Anderson & Garland auction house, in Newcastle upon Tyne, was contacted by the Ethiopian National Heritage national restitution committee about the 19th-century Abyssinian shield, which it said should be removed from its auction taking place on Thursday.